Shoot Brief: Surveillance

Keyword Code: SURMAY17

The NYPD can tap into roughly 6,000 street cameras, two-thirds of which are privately owned. There are another 7,000 in public housing and more than 4,000 in the city’s subway stations. The city’s surveillance network pales in comparison, however, to Greater London’s “Ring of Steel.” In the UK capital, roughly half-a-million cameras observe public space — that’s one camera for every 16 people. Then there are all the other cameras watching you that are privately run by storekeepers, building managers, and homeowners. We are becoming a global surveillance society, if we’re not already there, and this makes footage on this theme extremely relevant.

Shot-List Thought-Starters

• POV from a security camera on the streets and highways
• POV from a security camera in a hotel, casino, or residential lobby
• POV from a security camera in a elevator
• POV from a security camera in a parking structure
• POV from a security camera in a shop or convenience store
• POV from a security camera in a park or public space
• POV from a security camera at a bank or cash machine
• POV from a security camera in a home
• POV from a security camera on subway and train platforms

Pro-Tip: It’s important to capture the source camera, whether it’s attached to a building, street post, or any other fixed position (use close-ups and long shots, pans and tilts, push in and out, pull focus). As opposed to a static shot, a surveillance camera that moves would be ideal. A multi-camera split-screen shot from the camera’s POV is a dynamic illustration of the concept and worth the effort to assemble in post. These themes also represent an opportunity for our motion graphics contributors, when it comes to applying layers such as facial and iris-recognition features.

Location Diversity: Urban, Suburban, and Rural

Before You Shoot:
• Please check what content already exists in the Pond5 marketplace
• Think about a visual approach that will result in new and fresh footage

Submission Checklist:
• Remember to tag your clips with the keyword code: SURMAY17
• Have all property and model releases filled out and submitted
• No logos or brands may be visible in any of the clips
• Don’t forget to add any applicable conceptual keywords